Ice-cream spoon.



D. H. MOSTELLER.

lQE CREAM SPOON. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 11, 1914.

1,142,354. Patnted June 8,1915.

I Invenior: Dos 'erHMosZZler DOSIER H. MOSTE LLEB, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, 0F ONE-HALF T0 ROBERT MALCOM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, AND ONE-HALF TO G. C. BUQUO, OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

ICE-CREAM SPOON.

To all whom it may cyncem:

Be it known that I, Dosmn H. MOSTELLER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and use ful Improvements in Ice-Cream Spoons, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spoons used pr ncipallyfor dishing outa measured quantity of ice cream, and has particular reference to the arrangement and construction of the means by which the spoon scraper is actuated, as well as numerous other cofiperatmg features. h Y s e In the present device, I have-sought to construct an ice cream spoon in which the operating parts are readily removable so as to permit of cleansing or replacement whenever necessary; to protect the operating parts as far as possible from contact with s the ice cream and melted fluid with which mentary view in elevation of the bottom,

the instrument comes into contact; to eliminate entirely the use of screws, nuts or similar fastening elements for maintaining the component parts in assembled relation; and

to provide a form of construction which is 1 simple, strongand effective, as well as inexpensive of manufacture. These and other obgects will more clearly appear from a description of the invention and drawing as hereinafter set forth.

' In the drawing:' Figure 1 is a top or plan view of an ice cream spoon embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section therethrough, showing the component parts disassembled; Fig. 3 is a fragof the shank, showing the operating handle removed; Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view in elevation of the pivotal end of the operatin'g-handle; Fig.5 is a detail of the operating handle and rack carried thereby,.taken on line 55 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 is a view simi lar to Fig. 3,showing a modified form of shank construction; and Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the pivotal end of an operating handle, showing a form of construction adapted for use with a shank, such as illustrated in Fig. 6.

-My ice. cream spoon comprises a bowl 8, a shank 9 attached thereto, and a handle 10 secured to the shank for convenience; in manipulating the device. Within the bowl, a scraper 11 formed preferably of spring material .is, operatively positioned, having Specification of Letters Patent.

within a bore 15 disposed in the interior of the shank. At the extremities of the bore 15, packing rings 16 are arranged within suitable annular, recesses, the ring at the bowl extremity being .engaged by an annular shoulder 17 on the stub shaft 14. The bore 15 by these means is thus protected against the entrance or leakage of fluid or other substances which might mterfere with the operation of the device. The stub shaft is further shaped to provide, in effect, a tongue 18 at its extremity within the bore adapted to register and lock with the grooved end 19 of, a spindle 20 disposed within the bore.

As shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the spindle is capable ofbeing inserted within the bore 15 and looking with the stub shaft 14. A mutilated pinion 21 which is arranged on one end of the s indle alone liesexteriorly of the shank. Plvotally connected with the shank, as at 22, is an op-' erating handle 23 which carries a rack meniber 24, the teeth of which engage with the pinion 21 to oscillate the spindle, the swinging movements of the operating handle be- 1ng limited by engagement of themutilated or uncut portion 25 of the pinion 21 with the rack 24. A. flange 26 is carried by the rack member to provide a retaining wall for the pinion 21, and thus prevent endwise movement of the spindle 20, a cutaway portion 27 being arranged substantially mid-' way betweenthe operating ends of the rack 24 for purposes to be heremafter explained. The pivotal end of the operating handle, as best shown in Fig. 2, is provided with a suitable bore 28 within which the pivotal member 22 may lie, an annular chamber 29 PatentedJune 8, 19515. 7 Application filed-March 11, 1914. Serial No. 828,961. 7

being arranged around the bore to receive therewithin a coil spring 30. An outwardly extending lip 31 is further provided on the pivotal end of the operating handle, being the shank is then possible. The ends of the coil spring are secured one through a hole shown in Fig. 1.' In the construction illustrated in Figs' 6 and 7, one end of the spring engages with an opening 33 formed in the shank and is thus entirely concealed,

instead of presenting one end in engagement with the body of the hook-like member.

In operation, the operating handle 22 may be engaged by the thumb, but preferably by the fingers, or palm of the hand, and moved inwardly as far as the mutilated pinion 21 engaging with the rack 24 will permit. The reciprocation of the rack serves to effect an oscillation .of the spindle 20 and scraper 11 connected therewith so as to dislodge the contents of the bowl 8. Return movement of the parts to the initial position isaccomplished by means of the spring 30, which causes the operating handle to be swung outwardly and the remaining elements to be restored to the position shown in Fig. 1. During these movements, the scraper 11 remains securely in operative position, the spindle 20 is prevented from disconnecting with the scraper and disengaging from the rack 24 by means of the flange 26, and the operating handle is pivotally locked to the shank through engagement of the lip' 31 with the hook-like member 32. As before explained, the swinging movements of the operating handle 22 are limited by the -.uncut portion 25 of the mutilated pinion 21 engaging with the rack member 24.

When for purposes of cleansing or otherwise, it is "desired to disassemble the device, the operating handle 22 is swung but half way in, so that the cut away portion of the of the spindle 20. In this position the uncut portion of thepinion 21 assumes a position the shank and the, other on the uncut portion 25 of the pinion. These marks aline only when the parts have assumed the one position in-which withdrawal of the spindle 20 and the pinion 21 through the flange 26 on the rack is possible. When such withdrawal has been eflected, the operating handle is no longer limited as before in its outward swinging movement, but may be swung around through a much greater are to a position where the lip 31 no longer engages with the hook-like member 32, and thus alflange is substantially in line with the axis.

low the operating handle to be withdrawn from pivotal connection with the shank.

By inwardly pressing the end of the scraper j 11 which carries the trunnion 12 and thus disengaging the same from its ]0l1lIltl 13, the scraper may also be removed from the ,bowl. This operation of entirely disassembling the device is accomplished, it is to be noted, without the necessity of any tools or terfere with the operation of the instrument, require attention.

The entire device comprises but a single part which constitutes the bowl, shank, and handle, and three. individual operating elements, viz., the scraper, spindle, and operatinghandle. Because of this construction, and because the major portion of the transmission is effectually prevented from contact with food products of all kinds, the operation of the device is exceptionally easy, and free from complication- I claim: g

1. In an ice cream spoon, the combination with a bowl and a shank, of a scraper removably positioned within the bowl, a spinvdle positioned within the shank for operatmg the scraper and removable from .the-

2. In an ice cream spoon, the combination with a bowl and a shank, of a scraper removably positioned within the bowl, a spindle positioned within the shank for operating the scraper and removable from the shank independently of the scraper, and a single means for locking said spindle in operative position and for oscillating the same, substantially as described.

3. In an ice cream spoon, the combination with a bowl and a shank, of a member arranged upon the shank and removable therefrom only when not in operative position, a spindle removably positioned within the shank but normally locked therein by said member, and a scraper removably positioned within the bowl and operatively connectedwith said spindle, substantially as described. 4. The combination with an ice cream spoon embodying a how], a scraper; removably positioned therein, a shank, and a spindle positioned within the shank for operating-the scraper and removable from the shank independently of the scraper, of a pinion arranged externally of the shank upon the spindle, a rack in engagement with the pinion, means integral with the rack for 1 shank independently pinion arranged upon the spindle, a rack in engagement with the pinion, means integral with the. rack for preventing disengagement preventing disengagement of the pinion therefrom, except when certain relative positions occur, and operating means for reciprocating the rack to impart oscillatory movement to the spindle and scraper, substantially as described.

5. The combination with an ice cream spoon embodying a bowl, a scraper removably positioned therein, a shank, and a spindle positioned within the shank for operating the scraper and removable from the of the scraper, of a externally of the shank of the pinion therefrom, except when certain relative positions occur, and operating means removably secured to the shank for reciprocating the rack to impart oscillatory movement to the spindle and scraper, said operating means being ma' tained in locked relation with the shank, except whenthe spindle is withdrawn therefrom, substantially as described. v

6. A11 ice cream spoon embodying in combination a bowl, a scraper within the bowl, a shank, a spindle within the shank removably connected with the scraper, a pinion on the spindle, a rack for operating the pin- 1on,-and a flange integral with the rack for preventing endwlse movement of the. spindle,.and provided with a cutaway portion when alined therewith, substantially as described.

7. An ice cream spoon embodying in combination a bowl, a scraper within the bowl, a shank, a spindle within the shank removably connected with the scraper, a pinion on the spindle, a rack for operating the pinion, a flange integral with the rack for preventing endwise movement of the spindle, and provided with a cutaway portion through which the'pinion and rack may pass when alined therewith, and an operating member secured to the shank for reciprocating the rack, and removable therefrom only when said spindleis withdrawn from the shank, substantially as described.

8. An ice cream spoon embodying a bowl, a scraper within the bowl, a shank, a spindle within the shank connected with the scraper, and means for oscillating the spindle, including an operating handle, and a pivotal connection between the shank and handle, said connection being maintained at all times when said handle is in operating position, and being severable only when said handle is not in operative position, substantially as described.

DOSIER H. MOSTELLER.

Witnesses: Ernmm BANNING, THoMAs A. BANNme.

through which the pinion and rack may pass 

